The Transport Department has bowed to pressure from advocacy groups by waiving fees associated with temporary driving licence cards and halting penalties for motorists caught driving with expired licences.
The decision comes as many motorists find themselves awaiting the renewal of their driving licences amidst significant backlogs in production after the department’s card printing machine broke down in February.
Lobby group, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse, has been arguing that fining motorists who are still waiting for their renewed card licences was unfair.
Minister Barbara Crecy said the backlog stood at 635,976 as at June 23, down from 733,000 when its card production machine became operational in May.
Creecy said the card production facility has, since the machine became operational, embarked on working overtime to wipe out the backlog.
“The facility, with the support of the department, is in the process of obtaining approval from the Department of Public Service and Administration for additional overtime work hours for 24 hours a day to catch up on the backlog,” she said.
Creecy was responding to parliamentary questions posed by EFF MP Omphile Maotwe.
She said motorists were urged to keep their old cards and apply for temporary driving licences to avoid being penalised by law enforcement officers should they be pulled over.
“Motorists can drive with an expired driving licence card for up to three months before being eligible to be fined, provided they can show proof that they applied for a new card before their current expires.
“If their card had already expired when at the time of application for replacement, they must also apply for a temporary driver’s licence as the time and keep proof thereof in the vehicle.”
Creecy also said The Transport Ministerial and Members Executive Council meeting held on June 27 resolved to waive the payment of the R72.00 for temporary driving licence card when motorists renew their driving licence cards.
“It was further resolved to impose a moratorium not to penalise motorists who drive their vehicles with expired driving licence cards and have proof when stopped by a law enforcement officer that they have applied for or renewed their driving licence card until a replacement card is issued.”
Responding to DA MP Chris Hunsinger, Creecy said her department was in the process of acquiring an interim solution with the Government Printing Works as a solution to the obsolete card production machine.
She also said the permanent solution will be the procurement of a new driving licence card production machine.
“However, that process cannot be embarked upon until finalisation of the declaratory order process,” she said.
“The procurement of a new driving licence machine remains in the procurement plan of the Driving Licence Card Account. The department has approached a competent court for a declaratory order. It is only after that process has been completed that procurement of a card machine will be started,” she said in response to Freedom Front Plus MP Philip van Staden.
Last September, the department announced Idemia Identity and Security – South Africa as the preferred bidder to produce new smart driving licence cards.
However, the contract was put on ice when Creecy asked the Auditor-General to investigate allegations of an irregular procurement process.
In papers filed in court, the department wants the court to set aside the Idemia contract, re-run the tender and allow the Department of Home Affairs to print the licence cards in the interim.
